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Abstract
Published online: 2 September 2016 © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 Abstract Despite the evidence indicating that long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIAs) are effective and safe options for the treatment of schizophrenia, various factors related to patients, clinicians and/or health policy makers have impeded their use. Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIAs) have been developed to improve the poor levels of adherence to oral antipsychotics observed in patients with schizophrenia and, consequently, to alleviate the high relapse and rehospitalization rates associated with nonadherence [1]. Of note, the benefits of LAIAs relative to oral antipsychotics are likely underestimated in randomized, controlled trials, as such trials underrepresent the nonadherent population and contain methodology-inherent compliance-improving factors [1]. Naturalistic trial designs are more likely to be representative of the population receiving LAIAs in clinical practice; such trials have demonstrated that LAIAs are more efficacious than oral antipsychotics in reducing rates of hospitalization [2, 3], an effect that may be particularly pronounced in first-episode patients [1, 4]. To reduce perceptions of coercion and to facilitate information transmission, the prescribing of LAIAs should result from a shared decision-making process in which clinicians, patients and caretakers have input [1] (Table 2). Clinicians should receive thorough education about LAIAs; their confidence in prescribing these formulations may increase if results from publicly funded LAIA studies with no potential conflicts of interest were available [1]. ... and improved convenience and cost assistance To address perceived barriers associated with injection visits, a specialized network of depot clinics for the delivery of LAIAs could be...